MacDonald's Aces

MacDonald's Aces is an Ace Assembly using gaffed cards where four Aces are shown, placed face up on the table, and covered with three other cards. One by one the Aces vanish from three piles, assembling together under the fourth pile held by the spectator.

History

It was first published in "More Inner Secrets" (1960) as "McDonald's $100 Routine" credited to Mac MacDonald (a one armed magic pitchman) who was selling the effect in the 1960s.

The plot itself was probably created by Hofzinser between 1857 and 1875 and was the finale of a trick called The Power of Faith (or more coreectly translated according to Magic Christian, The Power of Belief). Also, the use of double face cards in a four of a kind routine was in the Hofzinser's Card Conjuring (1931) as "The Four Kings".